Official Statement for Public Record
The Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association (BTOA) issues this statement as a matter of formal record, intended for submission to the House of Assembly, the Senate, the Cabinet Office, the Office of the Governor, and for public reference.
This statement is provided to ensure that the record of engagement between the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture & Sport, the Hon. Owen Darrell, JP, MP, and the BTOA is accurately represented, and that policy discussions currently before the public are understood within their full and verifiable context.
Recent statements made by the Minister of Transport, both publicly and within the House of Assembly, assert that the relationship between the Ministry and the taxi industry is “in good standing” and supported by ongoing engagement. These assertions carry institutional weight. They inform parliamentary understanding, influence public perception, and shape the context in which policy decisions are evaluated.
For that reason, they must be accurate, capable of being supported by the documented record, and consistent with the standards of accountability and transparency expected under the Ministerial Code of Conduct.
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Full Record of Taxi Industry Engagement, Ride-Share Policy, and Data in Bermuda
The purpose of this statement is not to advance a political position. It is to set out, in clear and documented terms, the sequence of engagement, communication, and action undertaken by the Association, and to ensure that those reviewing this matter, whether in Parliament, the media, or the public, are doing so with a complete and accurate account. This is not a question of perspective. It is a question of record.
Where the Record Diverges
The question of engagement is not abstract. It is defined by documented actions. In early July 2025, the BTOA formally requested a meeting with the Ministry of Transport to address regulatory concerns, operational challenges, and to ensure that the industry could contribute meaningfully to ongoing policy discussions. This request followed prior correspondence in June, including formal responses and clarification of the Association’s public position. Rather than facilitating that engagement, the Ministry issued written correspondence confirming that the scheduled meeting would not proceed as planned. The communication stated:
“However, the meeting scheduled for 17 July will be paused pending the release of the requested public statement by BTOA to address the original comments made on 23 June.”
This was not a logistical adjustment. It introduced a condition on engagement that was external to the policy matters under discussion and outside the normal expectations of stakeholder consultation. Two days later, on 11 July 2025, the Minister stated in the House of Assembly that engagement with the Association was ongoing and that the relationship was in good standing. These two positions cannot be reconciled. One reflects the documented position communicated directly to the Association. The other forms part of the parliamentary record. When those two do not align, it is necessary to set out the full context so that legislators, stakeholders, and the public can rely on an accurate understanding of events.
This distinction is not procedural, it is foundational. The parliamentary record is relied upon as an authoritative account of Government engagement and policy process. Where that record reflects a position that is not supported by documented correspondence and verifiable actions, a parallel record emerges, one formal, and one operational. It is the responsibility of this statement to reconcile that difference, so that those relying on the parliamentary record are doing so with the benefit of the full and accurate context.
An Industry That Began With Solutions
The BTOA’s engagement on this issue did not begin in opposition. It began with a contribution. In June 2025, in response to media outlets request to comment on national discussion regarding the state of the taxi industry and calls for reform, the Association provided a clear and constructive position. That position recognized the need for change and supported efforts to improve the industry through structured and collaborative action.
As stated publicly at the time, Full Article
“We appreciate MP Robinson’s call to action and view it as a step towards the robust reform and collaboration that the industry desperately needs.”
This was not a defensive response. It was an acknowledgment that reform is necessary and an invitation to engage in that process collaboratively. The Association’s broader submission at that time outlined practical measures that could be implemented within Bermuda’s existing legislative framework to improve service delivery, compliance, and operational accountability.
Clarification, Not Confrontation
Following the Minister’s formal statement on 24 June 2025, the BTOA responded on 26 June to clarify its position and address any misinterpretation of its public comments. That response reaffirmed the Association’s willingness to engage constructively and to work collaboratively with the Ministry. However, in subsequent correspondence, the Ministry indicated that certain statements made by the Association were considered contentious. In response, the BTOA formally requested clarification so that those concerns could be addressed directly.
As stated in that request:
“To date, the Ministry has not identified or outlined which specific statements are being disputed. These claims have not been clearly stated or clarified in any email correspondence or formal documentation received by the BTOA.”
No clarification was provided. Without clearly defined points of contention, meaningful dialogue cannot occur. Without engagement, consultation cannot be demonstrated.
The Point at Which Engagement Was Withdrawn
The written decision to pause the 17 July meeting marked a clear shift in the engagement process. This was not a breakdown in communication arising from disagreement. It was a formal withdrawal of engagement, conditional upon actions unrelated to the substance of policy discussion.
From that point forward, the Association continued to seek engagement through formal channels, including written correspondence and requests for clarification. Those efforts did not result in restored dialogue. The absence of engagement is not inferred. It is documented.
Escalation and Continued Non-Response
Given the inconsistency between public statements and documented actions, the BTOA escalated the matter through formal channels, including correspondence with the Premiere and Speaker of the House offices.
Despite these efforts, the absence of engagement persisted.
The record now reflects the following position:
“To this day, Minister Darrell has not met with the BTOA—nor has he responded to multiple formal letters seeking clarity and collaboration on key transport issues, including the ride-share policy currently under development…”
This statement is grounded in documented attempts at engagement and the absence of response to those efforts.
Engagement Continued, Beyond Government
Given the inconsistency between public statements and documented actions, the BTOA escalated the matter through formal correspondence to both the Speaker of the House and the Premier in July 2025. The Premier’s office acknowledged receipt and provided a response to the Association. However, the core issues raised specifically the discrepancy between the Ministry’s documented actions and statements made in the House of Assembly remained unresolved.
While the Speaker of the House engaged informally on the matter, no formal follow-up or correction to the parliamentary record has been issued. As a result, the inconsistency between the documented record and statements made in Parliament remains unaddressed.
Consultation Before Policy
The Association’s approach to reform has been grounded in consultation. Prior to submitting its policy framework, the BTOA conducted structured engagement with both the public and industry participants. A national public survey captured the experiences of residents, visitors, and businesses. A corresponding driver and operator survey examined operational realities within the industry.
These findings informed the “Connecting Bermuda, Driving Progress” transport plan submitted in 2024, which outlined a practical pathway for modernization within the existing legislative framework. No equivalent consultation record has been presented to demonstrate that this level of stakeholder engagement has informed current Government policy development.
From Plan to Implementation
The BTOA did not limit its efforts to policy proposals. It moved to implementation. Following the submission of the Connecting Bermuda, Driving Progress transport plan in 2024, which outlined a technology-enabled, compliant dispatch framework the Association initiated a pilot phase to test those concepts in practice. Between 2024 and 2025, this took the form of the BTOA Connect transport pilot, designed to evaluate digital dispatch, service coordination, and operational data capture within the existing regulatory environment.
The outcomes of that pilot directly informed the development of a purpose-built platform. In late 2025, this work transitioned into the creation of Journi, a modern dispatch and mobility system designed specifically for Bermuda’s regulated transport industry. Journi Ltd. was incorporated in January 2026, with operations going live April 2026, and the platform scheduled for official launch in May 2026. (Early beta drivers and customers are using the system currently)
The system provides digital booking, GPS-based trip management, and real-time operational data, supporting both improved service delivery and enhanced regulatory oversight. This is not conceptual reform. It is operational delivery. Crucially, the platform has been developed in alignment with existing legislation and the framework set out in the Connecting Bermuda, Driving Progress plan. In accordance with that approach, an application has been submitted to the Public Service Vehicle Licensing Board for a dispatch permit to operate Journi within the current regulatory structure. This step is significant.
It demonstrates that the industry is not seeking to operate outside the law, but to modernize within it providing transparency, accountability, and data-driven oversight capabilities that can support both regulators and policymakers.
From Data Availability to Policy Basis
The development of Journi is not only a service improvement. It establishes a current, verifiable data source for the operation of Bermuda’s transport system. Through digital booking, GPS-based tracking, and real-time trip recording, the platform is designed to generate continuous operational data, including service demand patterns, geographic coverage, wait times, and utilization rates. This type of data provides a live view of system performance, something that has historically not been available in a structured, system-wide form within the industry.” This is directly relevant to the basis on which policy decisions are being made.
Statements made in the House of Assembly confirm that elements of current transport policy are being informed by data dating back to 2017–2018. While the persistence of transport challenges is not disputed, reliance on historical data without incorporating current, locally generated operational data limits the accuracy of policy design and its ability to respond to present conditions. The capability now exists to move beyond that limitation.
With systems such as Journi, the industry is able to produce real-time, Bermuda-specific data that can inform evidence-based decision-making, support targeted enforcement, and provide transparency across the transport network. The question, therefore, is not whether data is available. It is whether current policy development is incorporating the most relevant and up-to-date information now being generated within the system.
Data Exists and It Has Been Shared
In addition to policy and platform development, the BTOA has implemented systems to support accountability through data collection. A structured complaints reporting system was introduced to capture verifiable information on service issues and regulatory breaches. These submissions have been formally provided to the relevant authorities.
One such submission illustrates the nature of these reports:
“I am writing to formally report an incident involving a taxi driver booked through the Hitch App at Royal Palms. One of our guests was in the reception area and used his phone to request a taxi…”
This example reflects a broader dataset of documented issues that has been made available to regulators. No substantive response or enforcement outcome has been communicated. The issue is not the absence of data. It is the absence of response to that data.
What Recent Statements Confirm
Statements made in the House of Assembly provide further context for the current policy direction. The Minister confirmed reliance on data dating back to 2017–2018, indicated that increased supply would address service gaps, acknowledged the presence of unregulated operators, and stated that Government is listening to the public.
These positions must be considered alongside the documented record. Where current data exists but is not incorporated, where enforcement gaps are acknowledged but not addressed, and where stakeholder engagement is asserted but not demonstrated, there is a clear disconnect between policy narrative and operational reality.
Where the Issue Now Stands
The record demonstrates a consistent pattern. Engagement has been initiated by the industry. It has not been reciprocated. Solutions have been developed and presented. They have not been formally addressed. Innovation has been delivered. It has not been integrated into policy discussion. At its core, this is not a question of whether reform is required. It is a question of whether that reform is being pursued through a process that is accurate, inclusive, and aligned with the responsibilities of public office.
Aligning Record and Responsibility
The BTOA supports modernization, innovation, and improved transport services in Bermuda. It also supports a policy process grounded in transparency, accountability, and accurate representation of stakeholder engagement. The Association’s record is documented. Its efforts to engage, contribute, and deliver solutions are evidenced through correspondence, consultation, and implementation.
Where the parliamentary record reflects a position that is not supported by that documented record, a divergence arises that cannot remain unaddressed. This statement is submitted to reconcile that divergence and to ensure that the record relied upon by legislators and the public reflects the full and accurate account of events.
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